Giovanni Bertolazzi is the winner of the 2nd Prize and five special prizes at the “Franz Liszt” International Piano Competition in Budapest (2021).
This significant achievement came after winning more than 40 prizes in international piano competitions, including the “S. Thalberg” in Naples, the “F. Busoni” in Bolzano, and the “Alkan Award for Piano Virtuosity” in Milan.
He was awarded the “Tabor Foundation Award” by the Verbier Festival Academy during the Verbier Festival (2022), and later received the International Piano Award “Guglielmina Durini Litta” in 2023.
Highlights of his career include appearances with the Hungarian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kodály Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra del Teatro La Fenice, the Orchestra del Teatro Bellini, and the Orchestra Sinfonica Siciliana.
Giovanni has performed at major venues including Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Teatro Ponchielli in Cremona, Teatro Politeama Garibaldi in Palermo, Sala Verdi at the Milan Conservatory, Palazzo del Quirinale in Rome, the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, the Liszt Ferenc Memorial Museum in Budapest, the National Liberal Club in London, Église de Verbier, and Castleton Theatre House in Virginia, USA.
He has been a guest of prestigious musical organizations such as the Società del Quartetto in Milan, Accademia Filarmonica of Verona, Amici della Musica of Padua, Bologna Festival, Amici della Musica of Florence, Liszt-Festival in Schillingsfürst, Verbier Festival, Zoltán Kocsis Festival, Cziffra Festival in Hungary, and the Castleton Festival in Virginia, USA.
He officially performed on the world’s longest concert-grand piano during his first public presentation, the BORGATO GRAND-PRIX 333 (3.33 meters long). On this piano, he recorded two albums entirely dedicated to Franz Liszt, published by BORGATO COLLECTION. The CDs received awards such as the “Supersonic Pizzicato Award” (PIZZICATO Magazine, Luxembourg), 5 stars from Rivista MUSICA (Italy), and nominations at the “International Classical Music Awards” (ICMA).
His concerts and recordings have been featured by Radio France Musique, Bartók Rádió, Rai Radio3, and Radio Romania Muzical.
The authoritative music critic Bryce Morrison, after listening to Bertolazzi’s albums, wrote in “The Art of Pianists”:
“Bertolazzi, though in the early stages of his career, is a clear possessor of talent, something that blazes out with a communicative force (though also with poetic delicacy) that rivets your attention.”
Additionally, Remy Franck (PIZZICATO Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief) wrote:
“The result is a pianistic drama of overwhelming power on the one hand and poetry on the other.”
Born in Verona in 1998, Giovanni earned his Bachelor’s Degree from the “B. Marcello” Conservatory of Music in Venice and then studied with Epifanio Comis at the “V. Bellini” State Institute of Music in Catania, where he obtained his Master’s Degrees in Piano Performance and Chamber Music, both with top honours. He holds a main piano chair at the “G. Frescobaldi” Conservatory of Music in Ferrara. Since 2023, he has been regularly invited to hold Masterclasses at the University of Debrecen (Hungary), during the YMSA – Young Musicians’ Summer Academy. In 2024, he was awarded the 43rd “Liszt Ferenc International Grand Prix Du Disque” by the Liszt Society of Budapest.
